Jewish staff at Goldsmiths, University of London claim they are being “frozen” out of its response to an inquiry into antisemitism, amid fears that it will be used to “constrain” protests and freedom of speech.

The university launched an inquiry into antisemitism in 2023, led by Mohinderpal Sethi KC, which found evidence of antisemitic incidents on campus, adding that the university was “culpable” for “failing to prevent it”.

It has since issued an  in response to the inquiry, which includes measures to restrict on-campus protests and introduce mandatory antisemitism training.

While broadly welcoming the findings of the report, a group of Jewish scholars, including celebrated children’s author Michael Rosen, have written an to the university’s management, expressing “serious concerns” about the response.

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“We would…urge the utmost caution against using the findings of the report to constrain any legitimate protests – for example in relation to showing support for Palestinians – on campus,” it says.

The group say they have requested to meet with Adam Dinham, the pro vice-chancellor in charge of the response, on multiple occasions to discuss their concerns about the action plan, but these requests have been denied.

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“Our worry is that this is going to be used as a clampdown on free speech,” said Catherine Rottenberg, a professor in media and cultural studies.

“But what is most disturbing to me is the lack of transparency and the exclusion of a sizeable portion of Jewish staff members who are demanding to talk to the dean and the board, and have been refused.”

She added that there are concerns that only a “very select group of Jewish voices are being heard in this discussion”, and that the action plan has “very serious implications for the way in which antisemitism is dealt with in institutions”. 

The action plan states there should be a “review [of] protest guidance” – despite the original inquiry suggesting the existing policy be maintained. It further states the university will “review and issue guidance on poster placement, language, and protest conduct…to avoid as far as possible expressions that are gratuitously offensive to others”.

Rottenberg, who is herself Israeli-American, raised concerns that antisemitism is being “weaponised” to crack down on free speech and pro-Palestinian protests, and that will result in a “clamping down of pro-Palestinian free speech”. 

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“One would think that they would be extremely keen to hear from staff members, and instead, we don’t hear them. This is a consistent pattern with the senior management: the unwillingness to meet with staff members and have difficult discussions. There is no accountability,” she said.

The University and College Union (UCU) branch and the Student Union  this week to the university executive raising their concerns over how changes to protests will impact free speech.

The letter says the concerns raised by the Jewish staff members “dispute” that the action plan is “representative of the views of Jewish students and staff”, and has requested “evidence as to how the university and the inquiry have sought a representative account”.

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Organisations including the Goldsmiths Students Union, UCU executive, and the Muslim Association of Britain previously pulled out of the antisemitism probe, complaining that there was “a lack of transparency as to who and what is being investigated”.

A spokesperson for Goldsmiths said: “We will be welcoming meetings and engagement with all students and staff as we deliver on the antisemitism action plan. We’re at the early stages of this work including drafting terms of reference and setting up an oversight group to ensure we address the serious findings of the inquiry in a transparent and inclusive way.

“Once these are in place we will be able to properly engage with the range of views held by Jewish students and staff alongside those of our wider community.

“We have updated our Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom in line with freedom of speech laws which comes into effect on 1 August. Our code has been reviewed by external legal experts, and we are confident it provides an appropriate framework for securing freedom of speech for our community and visitors.”

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juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com